Victorville woman held against her will for hours, allegedly assaulted

VICTORVILLE -- An Adelanto probationer was arrested Thursday morning for allegedly holding a woman against her will in her own apartment and reportedly sexually and physically assaulting her for several hours, San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials said.

Johnnie Clarence Pitchford, 42, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping for the purpose of rape, mayhem and attempted murder and was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga Thursday.

Victorville deputies responded to an apartment complex in the 14000 block of Seneca Road just after 8 a.m. Thursday for reports of a woman being held against her will, according to a news release.

Deputies located a woman with numerous visible injuries and cuts to her face and arms, officials said. Deputies also found Pitchford inside the woman's apartment.

Paramedics transported the woman to St. Mary Medical Center where she was last listed in serious condition.

Through an investigation, detectives learned Pitchford and the unidentified woman had known each other and had some sort of relationship in the past but hadn't spoken in some time, sheriff's officials said.

Wednesday night, Pitchford reportedly went to the woman's apartment uninvited and allegedly viciously attacked the victim.

Pitchford, who was on felony probation for a previous drug conviction, has been arrested numerous times in San Bernardino County for various offenses including burglary, attempted burglary, possession of a controlled substance and driving while under the influence, according to court records.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Victorville station at 909-241-2911.